Feeding mechanism for weighing-machines.



No. 784,007. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. A. L. F. MITCHELL & O. W. AIKEN.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 14, 1904. I

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M I l. r W 0 0Q 65 9 U 6 Z u 6 w w 6 F Q Ii JXM u 1/ 2 0% 6 9 M 6 AGWU 25 6 4 a Z 5 a 3% r 6 w M 2% 9 M f Al I 0 6 w 1b a M W a a m w 6 5 u w 4T 6 PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. A. L. I. MITCHELL & G. W. AIKEN.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEIGHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED A PE. 14, 1904.

2 T 0m m4 m a MUD Lap 1 j/ w: M m w No. 784,007. Patented February 28,19053.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETQE.

ALBION L. F. MIIIOHELL, OF BOSTON, MASSAUHUSE'ITS, AND CHARITIES \V.AIKEN, OF EAST ORANGE, NIGIV JERSEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WEIGHING li/IACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,007, dated February28, 1905.

Application filed April 14, 1904. Serial No, 203,146.

T 71/71/0711 If ll 67 72,: sults of the weighing if the material is fedBeitknown that we,ALB1'oyL. FMrronutt, very rapidly all the time. ofBoston, 1n the county of Suffolk and State A further object of ourinvention is to proof h lassachusetts, and CHARLES IV. AIKEN, of vide afeeding mechanism which will practi- 5 East Orange, in the county ofEssex and State cally cease operation if no box or other recepof NewJersey, have invented certa1n new and tacleis presentto receive thematerial weighed.

useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism To these ends our inventionconsists in the for IVeighing-lVlachines, of which thefollowconstruction and combination of parts, subing is a specilication.stantially as hereina fter describedaml claimed.

TO This invention relates to means for control- Of the accompanyingdrawings, forming a ling the feed of powdery material to weighpart ofthis specification, Figure I represents ing-machines, particularly ofthat type which a front elevation of a. machine embodying our willdeliver the material to the boxes or paclcpresent invention, the sameincluding also a ages in which said material is to be furnished somewhatconventional rem-esentation of :1 5 to the trade. well-l nown form ofweighing-machine and of The invention has for its object chiefly to aconveyer for bringing the boxes into posiprovideimproved mechanism forfeeding powtion to receive the material from the weigho dery material,such as soap powd r, which is ing-machinc. Fig. 2 represents a sideelevamore or less diflicult to control in its delivery tion of the same.Fig. 3 represents an en- 20 to the weighing-machine and therefrom tolarged sectional detail on the line 3 3 of Fig. the boxes in which saidmaterial is to be 2. Fig. I is a view similar to Fig. 3, but packed. InLetters Patent of the United showing the parts in a different position.7 States No. 735,281, granted to us August 5, Fig. 5 represents asection on line 5 5 of Fig. 1903, a hopper is shown, into which thesoap 1. Fig. 6 represents a section on line (i (3 of 5 powder or otherpowdery material is deliv- Fig. 1. Fig. Treprescnts a detailverticalseccred and from which the material passes tion taken throughthe clutch-shaft and showthrough slits in a delivery-tube, stirrersbeing also the cam carried by said shalt. Figs. ing employed to insurethe proper delivery of 8, 9, and II) are detail sections on line b S, .lthe material through the slits of said tube. 9, and 10 IO, respectively,of Fig. 4%.

3 In some respects our present invention resem- The same referencecharacters indicate the bles that which is shown and claimed in the sameor similar parts tl'iroughout the several said patent. Our presentinvention, howviews. so ever, provides for the employment of means Asuitable framework for the entire appafor automatically varying thestream of powratus is indicated at 20, said framework being 35 derymaterial, so that the said material will be secured to supportinguprights or timbers 21. at times-fed in large quantities, so as toresult The hopper 22 for receiving material from a in a more rapidoperation of the apparatus as suitable chute or spout w is supported bya 5 a whole, the feeding mechanismat other times bracket 23, projectingfrom the framework delivering a small stream. In other words, I 20. Asleeve 2a. is secured to the bottom of 4 while there is a continuousstream of powdery the hopper, from which sleeve a bracluzt-arm materialbeing fed it is varied in quantity, the extends, as clearly shown inFig. 2.

object of feeding a small quantity at the pe- A stirrer-shaft 26, havingblades 27 in the 9 riods of feed between the delivery of large hopper22, is rotated by suitable mechanism, quantities through the tube beingto provide (representedsomewliatconventionally in Figs.

45 for the accurate operation of the weighing I and 2,) and whichmechanism it is not necmechanisrn. In weighing-machines of the essary tospecifically describe herein. The type commonly employed for weighingsuch outlet or delivery tube is suitably supmaterial it is impossible toobtain accurate reported with its upper end located within the Saidweighing-machine is preferably of that type which employs twoalternately-moving buckets into which the material is fed. Each of thebuckets when filled with a predetermined quantity of material willdischarge said material through a spout 30 into packing-boxes A, whichare placed in holders 31, mounted upon an endless belt 01' carrier 32.Since the weighing-machine proper and the carrier for the boxes form nopart of our present invention, they do not need to be described or shownherein in detail.

The carrier may be driven either continuously or intermittently by anywell-known or preferred means.

The framework which supports the weighing-machine 29 is provided with alug 33, to which a lever 34 is pivoted. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 6.) Theinner end of the lever 34 projects into the path of movement of theboxes A. From the other or outer end of the lever 34 a flexibleconnection 35, such as a rope or chain, leads over idler-pulleys 36 and37 to the arm 38 of a lever ;2 (see Fig. 7,) said lever being pivoted at39 and having a spring 40, by means of which it will be normally held inthe position shown in Fig. 7. At the same time the spring 40, which hasits upper end connected with a suitable part of the frame, serves,through the connection 35, to hold the lever 34 normally in the positionshown in .Fig. 6. The lever 1/ has two other arms, 41 and 42, thepurposes of which will be hereinafter described. Mounted in suitablebearings 43, attached to the frame of the machine, is a shaft 44, towhich is secured a, cam 45. A pulley 46, loosely mounted on the shaft44, is constantly driven by a belt47, connected toasuitabledriving-pulley. (NOiDSllOWI'L) The hub of the pulley 46 isformed with clutchteeth 48, adapted to be engaged by similar teethformed upon a clutch member 49, splined on the shaft 44. Formed with orconnected to the clutch member 49 is a disk 50, on one side ofwhichisacam projection 51. (See Fig. 7.) A spring 52 (see Fig. 5) is coiledabout the shaft 44 between the cam 45 and the disk 50, said springtherefore having a tendency to force the clutch member 49 toward theright in Fig. 5, so that the teeth of said clutch member will engagewith the teeth 48 of the pulley 46; but as long as the parts are in therelative positions shown in Fig. 7 the arm 41 of the lever y islaterally engaged by the cam projection 51, and the clutch member 49 istherefore held in the position shown in Fig. 5, so that there will be nointerengagement of clutch-teeth. In order that the parts may normallystand in the positions shown in Fig. '7, the disk 50 is formed with atooth or projection 53, which will rest upon the upper end of the stop54, pivoted at 55, the lower end of said pivoted stop having a lateralpin will now be understood that every box A which engages the free endof the lever 3 will cause a pull upon the connection 35, so as to swingthe lever in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7. This motion of thelever 1/ causes the arm 42 to engage the pin 56 and swing the pivotedstop 54, so as to carry its upper end out of the path of the tooth orprojection 53 of the disk 50. At the same time the arm 41 of the leverleaves the cam 51 of the disk 50 and permits the spring 52 to cause theengagement of the clutch. Since the clutch member 49 is, as abovestated, splined upon the shaft 44, the rotating pulley 46 and theclutch-teeth carried by its hub cause the shaft 44 to revolve, saidshaft carrying the cam 45 with it. Said shaft and cam have but a singlerotation, however, because before the completion of one rotation the boxA has passed the lever 34, so as to enable the spring 40 to return thelever 1 to the position shown in Fig. 7, thus permitting the pivotedstop 54 to return to normal position, so that the upper end thereof willbe in the path of the projection 53 of the disk 50. Then the cam 51engaging the arm 4i of the lever results in the separation of the clutchmembers.

Alever57, pivoted to the end of the bracketarm 25, is engaged by the cam45 to control the feed of material, as will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the outletor delivery tube 28 is provided with large feed openings or ports 53,from which slits 59 extend up 'ard. Said slits 59 form small ports whichin this instance are continuations of the relatively larger ports 58.

Surrounding the tube 23 and fitted to slide vertically through theopening in the hopper 22 and sleeve 24 is the tubular controllingvalve60, having its lower portioi'i threaded as at 61. A collar 62 isinternally threaded to lit the threaded portion of the tubular valve 66,and ztset-collar or jam-nut 63 is employed to secure the collar 62 inits adjusted position relatively to said valve. Links 64 connect thecollar 62 with the lever 57, so that the movements of the lever 57caused by the cam 45 will raise and lower the tubular controllingvalve60.

1f the-valve were litted more or less closely to the tube 28, powderymaterial, such as soap powder, would find entrance between the two andcause such a binding as to pre vent operation of the valve. Thecontrollingvalve is therefore, excepting at its upper and lower ends, ofa greater diameter internall than the external diameter of the tube 28,so as to form a space 65 between the two tubes. The lower portion of thevalve-tube which bears upon the surface of the tube 28 is formed withescape-ports 66, through which any powdery material that finds its waybetween the two tubes may escape and drop into the fumiel-shaped upperend .67 of the usual sliding section or tube 68, which is employed toconduct the material to the weighing-machine.

The cam 45 and the tubular valve are normally in the positions shown,respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3. Each box A actuates the lever 3 to causethe valve .to open the large ports 58, so that by the time the box is inposition under the spout from the weighingmachine the material has beenfirst rapidly fed to quickly supply the weighing-machine and then slowlyfed to accurately weigh the material and then permit the deposit of theproper quantity into such box. If a box is omitted from the carrier, thecam will remain in the position shown in Fig. 2, because there isnothing to actuate the lever 34. lVith the cam 45 stationary thecontrolling-valve remains in the position shown in Fig. 3, and therewill be only a small quantity of material supplied from the hopper 22.

It will be noticed that the shape of the cam 4-5 is such that when it isgiven its rotation it will be in the direction of the arrow shownadjacent to the shaft M in Fig. 2. The movement of the lever 57 downwardwill be rapid, so as to quickly open the large ports 58, after whichopening and the rapid supply of nearly enough material into theweighing-machine to fill a box the upward movement of the lever 57 willbe comparatively slow, so as to gradually diminish the stream to a verysmall quantity.

It will be seen that we have provided an apparatus comprising aweighinganachine and means for continuously supplying a stream ofmaterial which is automatically variable, so as to secure a rapid supplyof the chief quantity of material necessary to fill a box and aslowersupply of enough more to secure an accurate balancing. \Ve thereforesecure a great saving of time in the weighing and filling of a quantityof boxes.

As above stated, the weighing machine itself is preferably of that typewhich employs two a1ternately-moving buckets, into which the material isfed. It will therefore be obvious that when the feeding mechanismillustrated is used in connection with a weighingmachine of said typethe material will be altcrnately deflected from one bucket to the other,and the stream will be automatically red need just prior to thecompletion of a load.

As has also been stated, the pulley 46, which is loosely mounted on theshaft l t, is constantly driven. Said shaft, therefore, or the means fordriving it may be referred to as the motor, which through the medium ofthe cam 45 and the mechanism actuated thereby will at certain timesshift the valve which varies the stream of material being fed. The motorfor shifting said valve is therefore independent of the weight of thematerial in the bucket of the weighing-machine. The control or variationof the stream is therefore more perfectly effected than could be thecase if such variation depended upon either movements of the bucket ofthe weighing-machine or upon movements of the stream of material.

We clail 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising aweighing-machine having a plurality of alternately-operating buckets,means for feeding a constant but variable stream of material alternatelyto the buckets, and means independent of the weighing-machine forautomatically reducing the stream just before the completion of a load.

2. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising aweighing-machine, means for supplying a constant but variable stream ofmaterial thereto, and means independent of the weighing-machine forautomatically red ucing said stream.

3. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising aweighing-machine, means for continuously supplying a stream of materialthereto, a carrier for boxes in which the material is to be placed afterweighing, and means whereby the variation of the stream will becontrolled by a box on said carrier.

4. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with ahopper, of a feeding or delivery tube leading therefrom and having largeports, and relatively small ports above the large ports, a tubular valvemovable lengthwise of the said delivery-tube, and means for shifting thetubular valve.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with ahopper, of a delivery-tube leading therefrom and having ports, a tubularcontrolling-valve movable longitudinally of the delivery-tube and havinga space formed between it and said deliverytube, escape-ports beingformed at the lower end of said space, and means for sliding saidtubular valve.

6. In an. apparatus of the character specilied, the combination with ahopper, of a feeding or delivery tube leading therefrom and having largeports, and relatively small ports above the large ports, a tubular valvemovable lengthwise of the said delivery-tube, a lever connected withsaid tubular valve, and means for automatically operating said lever.

7. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with ahopper, of a feeding or delivery tube leading therefrom and having largeports, and relatively small ports above the large ports, a tubular valvemovable lengthwise of the said delivery-tube, a lever connected withsaid tubular valve, and means for automatically operating said lever,means being provided for adjusting the connection between said lever andvalve.

8. In an apparatus of the character specified, the col'nbination withahopper, of a feeding or delivery tube leading therefrom and havinglarge ports, and relatively small ports above the large ports, a tubularvalve movable lengthwise of the said delivery-tube, a lever connectedwith said tubular valve, a cam for actuating said lever, and means forintermittently operating said cam.

9. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising aweighing-machine, a hopper, an outlet or delivery tube from said hopperfor supplying material to the weighing-machine, said tube havingopenings of varying sizes, a tubular valve movable longitudinally of thedeliyery-tube, a lever having connections with said tubular valve toactuate the latter, a cam for actuating the lever, said cam having ashape to impart a quick movement to the lever in one direction and acomparatively slow return movement, and means for intermittentlyoperating said cam.

10. In an apparatus of the character specilied, the combination with ahopper, of the delivery-tube 28 having large ports 58 and slitsconnecting therewith, the tubular valve 60 having an externally-threadedlower portion,

the collar 62 and jam-nut 63 fitted to said 1 threaded portion of thevalve, a lever, links connecting said lever and collar, and means foractuating the lever.

11. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with thehopper, of the delivery-tube opening therefrom and having openings inits walls, a tubular valve inclosing said delivery-tube and separatedtherefrom by a space, escape-ports being formed at the lower end of thetubular valve to permit of the escape of material in said space, and atube having a funnel-shaped upper end to receive the material escapingfrom said space.

In testimony whereof we have a'l'fixed our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALBION L. F. MITCHELL. CHARLES \V. AIKEN. itnesses to A. L. F. M.:

C. F. BROWN, E. BATCHELDER. lVitnesses to (l. \V. A.:

HowAi-n) R. BARTON, LEE VAN \Vua'r.

